The University of Akron Athletics
Wednesday, May 27
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NCAA East Preliminary Round
Akron Set for NCAA East Preliminary Round Track and Field Championships
May 26 | Track & Field
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field program will send 13 student-athletes from its men's and women's teams – competing in 13 events – to the NCAA East Preliminary Round at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., from May 27-30.
The meet, which invites the region's top 48 athletes in each event, serves as the opening round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA National Championship in Eugene, Ore., from June 10-13.
The Zips will be represented by seven men and six women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Lexington, Ky., this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be redshirt senior Cassidy Allen (Lakewood, N.Y.) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Thursday), redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) (Hammer – 10 am, Thursday, Shot Put – 6:30 pm – Thursday, Discus – 1 p.m., Saturday), redshirt senior Gabrielle Griffiths (Fort Worth, Texas) (Hammer – 10 a.m., Thursday, Javelin – 1 p.m., Thursday), junior Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio) (10,000 meters – 9:10 p.m., Thursday), redshirt freshman Mercy Jebitok (Kapsabet, Kenya) (10,000 meters – 9:10 p.m., Thursday) and freshman Jackline Nanjala (Kitale, Kenya) (400 meters – 7:25 p.m., Thursday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Cassidy Allen – Pole Vault (No. 28 – 13-8.50/4.18m)
Brook Boes – Shot Put (No. 46 – 50-9.25/15.47m), Discus (No. 46 – 168-6/51.37m); Hammer (No.39 – 195-2/59.49m)
Gabrielle Griffiths – Hammer (No. 13 – 205-1/62.52m), Javelin (No. 44 – 156-4/47.66m)
Megan Hipple – 10,000 Meters (No. 23 – 33:25.83)
Mercy Jebitok – 10,000 Meters (No. 14 – 33:11.90)
Jackline Nanjala – 400 Meters (No. 45 – 52.86)
Competing for Akron on the men's side will be redshirt senior Lane Graham (Killbuck, Ohio) (Hammer – 10:00 a.m., Wednesday), sophomore Amari Noble (Virginia Beach, Va.) (Discus – 1:00 p.m., Friday), sophomore Kaden Rambatt (Sharon, Wis.) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), junior Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas) (200 meters – 7:25 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Jeffrey Usman (Warri, Nigeria) (Long Jump – 6 p.m., Wednesday), junior Christopher Vance (Parma, Ohio) (Hammer – 10:00 a.m., Wednesday) and redshirt senior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) (Shot Put – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday; Discus – 1:00 p.m., Friday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Lane Graham – Hammer (No. 15 – 220-2/67.12m)
Amari Noble – Discus (No. 22 – 189-11/57.90m)
Kaden Rambatt – Pole Vault (No. 33 – 17-3.50/5.27m)
Andrew Styles – 200 Meters (No. 48 – 20.70)
Jeffrey Usman – Long Jump (No. 40 – 24-10/7.57m)
Christopher Vance – Hammer (No. 46 – 204-9/62.40m)
Owen Wendl – Shot Put (No. 14 – 62-1/18.92m), Discus (No. 26 – 188-1/57.33m)
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at 10 a.m. at UK Outdoor Track and Field Complex on the campus of the University of Kentucky, on Wednesday, May 27, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the men's 110-meter hurdle preliminaries at 6 p.m. and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:10 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's hammer at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 6 p.m. The women's 10,000 meters closes out the day's action at 9:10 p.m.
The third day commences with the men's discus at 1 p.m. on Friday before actions gets underway on the track with the quarterfinals of the men's 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. The quarterfinals of the men's 4x400 relay caps the men's competition at 8:45 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's discus at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The first running event is slated to begin at 5 p.m. with the quarterfinals of the women's 4x100 relay before the meet draws to a close with the women's 4x400 relay quarterfinals at 8:45 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to ncaa.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
Wednesday • May 27
10:00 a.m. – Men's Hammer (Lane Graham, Christopher Vance)
6:00 p.m. – Men's Long Jump (Jeffrey Usman)
6:30 p.m. – Men's Pole Vault (Kaden Rambatt)
6:30 p.m. – Men's Shot Put (Owen Wendl)
7:25 p.m. – Men's 200 Meters Opening Round (Andrew Styles)
Thursday • May 28
10:00 a.m. – Women's Hammer (Brook Boes, Gabrielle Griffiths)
1:00 p.m. – Women's Javelin (Gabrielle Griffiths)
6:30 p.m. – Women's Pole Vault (Cassidy Allen)
6:30 p.m. – Women's Shot Put (Brook Boes)
7:25 p.m. – Women's 400 Meters First Round (Jackline Nanjala)
9:10 p.m. – Women's 10,000 Meters Semifinals (Megan Hipple, Mercy Jebitok)
Friday • May 29
1:00 p.m. – Men's Discus (Amari Noble, Owen Wendl)
7:50 p.m. – Men's 200 Meters Quarterfinals (Andrew Styles)
Saturday • May 30
1:00 p.m. – Women's Discus (Brook Boes)
6:50 p.m. – Women's 400 Meters Quarterfinals (Mercy Jebitok)
NCAA CHAMPIONS: Akron's entries will be looking to add to the tradition of the Zips' track and field program, which already includes nine individual national champions. Christi Smith made history in 2000 when she became the first national champion in school history, capturing gold in the heptathlon. Stevi Large was the next to accomplish the feat, winning the women's hammer throw in 2009. Annika Roloff captured the women's pole vault in 2014. Shawn Barber became the school's first male champion claiming the indoor pole vault title in 2014 before again earning the crown at the 2015 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Clayton Murphy became Akron's first-ever NCAA champion in a running event winning the indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters in 2016. In 2017, Matt Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
DIGITAL TICKETING: Mobile tickets are available for $8 for Thursday and $10 for Friday at www.GoZips.com/tickets and must be purchased in advance. Mobile ticketing will be utilized for all home Akron track and field meets this season. Akron students with valid ID will be admitted free of charge. All fans should enter through the main stadium entrance at the corner of Vine and South Union Streets across from InfoCision Stadium-Summa Health Field. Doors will open to the public at 11 a.m. both days.
PARKING UPDATE: Akron track and field fans are encouraged to park in Lots 1 (Corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets), 6, 9 and 10 for track and field meets. Parking in other lots without appropriate UA permit is subject to ticketing by parking services.
TOP TIMES IN THE MAC: The Zips currently own 12 overall performances that lead the Mid-American Conference during the outdoor campaign.
Outdoor
TOP TIMES IN THE MAC: The Zips registered 10 overall top performances in the Mid-American Conference during the indoor campaign.
Indoor
SENIOR DAY: Akron honored 11 as part of Senior Day on May 7. Among those honored were Cassidy Allen, Brook Boes, Tai'Yanna Cage (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Lane Graham, Gabrielle Griffiths, Benjamin Hudak (Tallmadge, Ohio), Emily Razo (Salem, Ohio), Sophia Spencer (Medina, Ohio), Rashaun Stewart (West Moreland, Jamaica), Ruth Webb (Akron, Ohio) and Owen Wendl.
LAST TIME OUT:
For fifth time in program history, and first since 2019, Akron captured the men's and women's outdoor Mid-American Conference Championships outdistancing the field on May 16.
The Akron men's squad won the men's title with 212 points, which was 63.50 points ahead of second place Eastern Michigan.
The Zips claimed the women's crown with 135.50 points, 22 points in front of rival Kent State.
Akron head coach Kendra Reimer-Gonzales was tabbed as the MAC Men's and Women's Coach of the Year.
Individually, Brook Boes was named the MAC Women's Track and Field Most Valuable Performer, while Mercy Jebitok was honored as the league's Freshman Track Performer of the Year.
On the men's side, Andrew Styles was selected as the MAC Men's Track and Field Most Valuable Performer, while freshman Noah Nyageo (Kitale, Kenya) pulled in MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year accolades.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Styles captured a pair of individual titles winning the men's 400 meters in a career-best time of 46.22 before triumphing in the men's 200 meters in career-best effort of 20.70. His effort in the 400 meters is the No. 2 time in outdoor program history.
• Jackline Nanjala won her third MAC championship crossing the line first in a career-best time of 52.86, the No. 2 performance in outdoor program history.
• Jebitok captured her second league crown finishing first in the women's 5,000 meters in 16:12.93.
• Nyageo bested the field in the men's 5,000 meters for his second career league title in a time of 14:30.61.
• Junior AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) earned Second Team All-MAC honors with a runner-up performance in the men's 200 meters in 20.83.
• Junior Jordan Thompson-Seay (Bratenahl, Ohio) garnered Second Team All-MAC accolades placing second in the men's high jump with a career-best mark of 6-6.75 (2.00m).
• The men's 4x400 relay squad of junior Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), Jordan, freshman Tayven Crump (Vandalia, Ohio) and Styles won the race in 3:09.47.
• The men's 4x100 relay team of junior Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.), Jordan, sophomore Garrett Tiller (Streetsboro, Ohio) and Styles crossed the line second in 40.09.
• The women's 4x400 relay team of seniors Vanessa Horn (Ludwigsfelde, Germany) and McKenzie McNitt (Cleveland, Ohio), sophomore Mariyah Moore (Cleveland, Ohio) and Nanjala earned a runner-up finish in a time of 3:39.61.
• Brook Boes won her third league title triumphing in the women's shot put with a mark of 49-9.75 (15.18m).
• Owen Wendl garnered his seventh career league title besting the field in the men's shot put with a mark of 59-9.25 (18.22m), while fellow Lane Graham collected second team All-MAC honors finishing second with a career-best throw of 57-7.75 (17.57m).
• Graham captured his second league title besting the field in the men's hammer with a career-best mark of 220-3 (67.12m), while Christopher Vance placed third with a mark of 200-3 (61.03m). Graham's throw is the second-best mark in outdoor program history.
• Jeffrey Usman earned second team All-MAC honors with a runner-up finish in the men's long jump with a leap of 24-9.25 (7.55m).
• Senior Taye Gonzalez (Lewis Center, Ohio) added team points in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase with a career-best time of 9:00.20, the fourth-fastest effort in outdoor program history.
• Wendl captured his sixth career league title winning his third straight outdoor discus crown with a throw of 188-1 (57.33m).
• Gabrielle Griffiths and Boes along with junior Victoria Kuol (Centerville, Ohio) swept the top three places in the women's hammer. Griffiths captured her first career league title with a throw of 195-6 (59.58m), while adding marks of 191-7 (58.40m) and 178-3 (54.34m), respectively, was Boes and Kuol.
• Jebitok won her initial league championship crossing the line in a school-record time of 33:11.90 in the women's 10,000 meters. Hipple placed third in a time of 33:40.61.
• Sophomores Garett Boe (Chesapeake, Va.), Isaac Baltic (Medina, Ohio) and Kaden Rambatt (Sharon, Wis.) shared the men's pole vault title eclipsing 15-11.75 (4.87m). It marked the second career crown for Baltic and the first championship for Boe and Rambatt.
• Griffiths also added a third-place finish in the women's javelin with a mark of 145-9 (44.42m).
• Cassidy Allen placed second in the women's pole vault with a mark of 13-8 (4.17m), while freshman Amanda Rauch (Marietta, Ohio) finished third with a career-best clearance of 13-0 (3.97m).
• Junior Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) garnered second team All-MAC honors finishing second in the men's 10,000 meters in a career-best time of 29:38.19.
• Amari Noble placed second in the men's hammer with a mark of 183-2 (55.83m).
AKRON GARNERS MAC OUTDOOR POSTSEASON HONORS: Brook Boes, Owen Wendl and Andrew Styles were honored by the Mid-American Conference when the league unveiled its 2026 specialty awards on Thursday (May 21).
Wendl and Boes were tabbed as the league's Outdoor Track and Field Men's and Women's Most Outstanding Field Performers of the Year, while Styles garnered the Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Year.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was selected by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Styles successfully defended his conference title in the 400 meters (46.20), while adding crowns in the 200 meters (20.70) and 4x400 relay en route to securing 22.5 points for the Zips to be named the meet's Most Valuable Performer for the second consecutive MAC Championship (Indoor and Outdoor).
Wendl successfully defended his conference titles in both the shot put (59-9.25/18.22m) and discus (188-1/57.33m), while helping lead Akron to its fourth consecutive MAC Outdoor Championship team title.
Boes was named the MAC Women's Field Most Valuable Performer after capturing the MAC championship in the shot put with a throw of 49-9.75 (15.18m) and adding a runner-up finish in the hammer throw (191-7/58.40m) and a fourth-place finish in the discus (156-3/47.62m).
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2026 outdoor season as the Zips are rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for eight events released on May 19, 2026, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is rated 12th nationally in the women's hammer, 14th in the men's hammer and men's shot put, 16th in the women's discus, 17th in the men's discus, 22nd in the men's and women's pole vault and 27th in the women's shot put
ZIPS RANKED AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2026 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have five individual student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2026 outdoor campaign as Owen Wendl is 30th in the men's shot put (62-1/18.92m).
Additionally, Lane Graham is 32nd in the men's hammer (220-2/67.12m), Gabrielle Griffiths is 36th in the women's hammer (205-1/62.52m), Mercy Jebitok is 45th in the women's 10,000 meters (33:11.90) and Amari Noble is 49th in the men's discus (189-11/57.90m).
AKRON GARNERS MAC INDOOR POSTSEASON HONORS: Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was tabbed the Mid-American Conference Men's Assistant Coach of the Year after Akron captured back-to-back indoor team titles and its fourth consecutive overall league crown.
Brook Boes was selected as the MAC Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet, after sweeping the throwing events winning the women's shot put (49-11.25/15.22m) and weight throw (68-4.50/20.84m).
Andrew Styles was honored as the MAC Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet after winning the 200M (21.67) and 400m (47.99) and anchoring the winning 4x400 relay (3:16.25).
Megan Hipple was tabbed the MAC Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet after a pair of All-MAC performances winning the women's 3K (9:18.79) and placing second in the 5K (16.03.86).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have added 31 overall top five performances and eight school-record marks in program history to the record book during the 2026 outdoor campaign.
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added 25 overall top five performances and a trio of school records in program history to the record book during the 2026 indoor campaign.
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
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Akron Women
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The meet, which invites the region's top 48 athletes in each event, serves as the opening round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA National Championship in Eugene, Ore., from June 10-13.
The Zips will be represented by seven men and six women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Lexington, Ky., this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be redshirt senior Cassidy Allen (Lakewood, N.Y.) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Thursday), redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) (Hammer – 10 am, Thursday, Shot Put – 6:30 pm – Thursday, Discus – 1 p.m., Saturday), redshirt senior Gabrielle Griffiths (Fort Worth, Texas) (Hammer – 10 a.m., Thursday, Javelin – 1 p.m., Thursday), junior Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio) (10,000 meters – 9:10 p.m., Thursday), redshirt freshman Mercy Jebitok (Kapsabet, Kenya) (10,000 meters – 9:10 p.m., Thursday) and freshman Jackline Nanjala (Kitale, Kenya) (400 meters – 7:25 p.m., Thursday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Cassidy Allen – Pole Vault (No. 28 – 13-8.50/4.18m)
Brook Boes – Shot Put (No. 46 – 50-9.25/15.47m), Discus (No. 46 – 168-6/51.37m); Hammer (No.39 – 195-2/59.49m)
Gabrielle Griffiths – Hammer (No. 13 – 205-1/62.52m), Javelin (No. 44 – 156-4/47.66m)
Megan Hipple – 10,000 Meters (No. 23 – 33:25.83)
Mercy Jebitok – 10,000 Meters (No. 14 – 33:11.90)
Jackline Nanjala – 400 Meters (No. 45 – 52.86)
Competing for Akron on the men's side will be redshirt senior Lane Graham (Killbuck, Ohio) (Hammer – 10:00 a.m., Wednesday), sophomore Amari Noble (Virginia Beach, Va.) (Discus – 1:00 p.m., Friday), sophomore Kaden Rambatt (Sharon, Wis.) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), junior Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas) (200 meters – 7:25 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Jeffrey Usman (Warri, Nigeria) (Long Jump – 6 p.m., Wednesday), junior Christopher Vance (Parma, Ohio) (Hammer – 10:00 a.m., Wednesday) and redshirt senior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) (Shot Put – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday; Discus – 1:00 p.m., Friday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Lane Graham – Hammer (No. 15 – 220-2/67.12m)
Amari Noble – Discus (No. 22 – 189-11/57.90m)
Kaden Rambatt – Pole Vault (No. 33 – 17-3.50/5.27m)
Andrew Styles – 200 Meters (No. 48 – 20.70)
Jeffrey Usman – Long Jump (No. 40 – 24-10/7.57m)
Christopher Vance – Hammer (No. 46 – 204-9/62.40m)
Owen Wendl – Shot Put (No. 14 – 62-1/18.92m), Discus (No. 26 – 188-1/57.33m)
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at 10 a.m. at UK Outdoor Track and Field Complex on the campus of the University of Kentucky, on Wednesday, May 27, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the men's 110-meter hurdle preliminaries at 6 p.m. and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:10 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's hammer at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 6 p.m. The women's 10,000 meters closes out the day's action at 9:10 p.m.
The third day commences with the men's discus at 1 p.m. on Friday before actions gets underway on the track with the quarterfinals of the men's 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. The quarterfinals of the men's 4x400 relay caps the men's competition at 8:45 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's discus at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The first running event is slated to begin at 5 p.m. with the quarterfinals of the women's 4x100 relay before the meet draws to a close with the women's 4x400 relay quarterfinals at 8:45 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to ncaa.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
Wednesday • May 27
10:00 a.m. – Men's Hammer (Lane Graham, Christopher Vance)
6:00 p.m. – Men's Long Jump (Jeffrey Usman)
6:30 p.m. – Men's Pole Vault (Kaden Rambatt)
6:30 p.m. – Men's Shot Put (Owen Wendl)
7:25 p.m. – Men's 200 Meters Opening Round (Andrew Styles)
Thursday • May 28
10:00 a.m. – Women's Hammer (Brook Boes, Gabrielle Griffiths)
1:00 p.m. – Women's Javelin (Gabrielle Griffiths)
6:30 p.m. – Women's Pole Vault (Cassidy Allen)
6:30 p.m. – Women's Shot Put (Brook Boes)
7:25 p.m. – Women's 400 Meters First Round (Jackline Nanjala)
9:10 p.m. – Women's 10,000 Meters Semifinals (Megan Hipple, Mercy Jebitok)
Friday • May 29
1:00 p.m. – Men's Discus (Amari Noble, Owen Wendl)
7:50 p.m. – Men's 200 Meters Quarterfinals (Andrew Styles)
Saturday • May 30
1:00 p.m. – Women's Discus (Brook Boes)
6:50 p.m. – Women's 400 Meters Quarterfinals (Mercy Jebitok)
NCAA CHAMPIONS: Akron's entries will be looking to add to the tradition of the Zips' track and field program, which already includes nine individual national champions. Christi Smith made history in 2000 when she became the first national champion in school history, capturing gold in the heptathlon. Stevi Large was the next to accomplish the feat, winning the women's hammer throw in 2009. Annika Roloff captured the women's pole vault in 2014. Shawn Barber became the school's first male champion claiming the indoor pole vault title in 2014 before again earning the crown at the 2015 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Clayton Murphy became Akron's first-ever NCAA champion in a running event winning the indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters in 2016. In 2017, Matt Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
DIGITAL TICKETING: Mobile tickets are available for $8 for Thursday and $10 for Friday at www.GoZips.com/tickets and must be purchased in advance. Mobile ticketing will be utilized for all home Akron track and field meets this season. Akron students with valid ID will be admitted free of charge. All fans should enter through the main stadium entrance at the corner of Vine and South Union Streets across from InfoCision Stadium-Summa Health Field. Doors will open to the public at 11 a.m. both days.
PARKING UPDATE: Akron track and field fans are encouraged to park in Lots 1 (Corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets), 6, 9 and 10 for track and field meets. Parking in other lots without appropriate UA permit is subject to ticketing by parking services.
TOP TIMES IN THE MAC: The Zips currently own 12 overall performances that lead the Mid-American Conference during the outdoor campaign.
Outdoor
| NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
| Andrew Styles | Men's 200M | No. 1 – 20.70 |
| Andrew Styles | Men's 400M | No. 1 – 46.22 |
| Jackline Nanjala | Women's 400M | No. 1 – 52.86 |
| Mercy Jebitok | Women's 10,00M | No. 1 – 33:11.90 |
| Amari Pratt Te'Aira Branham-Patrick Vanessa Horn Mariyah Moore |
Women's 4x100 Relay | No. 1 – 44.68 |
| Braylyn Farrington AJ Jordan Jalen McCoy Andrew Styles |
Men's 4x400 Relay | No. 1 – 3:08.29 |
| Kaden Rambatt | Men's Pole Vault | No. 1 – 17-3.50 (5.27m) |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put | No. 1 – 62-1 (18.92m) |
| Brook Boes | Women's Shot Put | No. 1 – 50-9.25 (15.47m) |
| Amari Noble | Men's Discus | No. 1 – 189-11 (57.90m) |
| Lane Graham | Men's Hammer | No. 1 – 220-2 (67.12m) |
| Gabrielle Griffith | Women's Hammer | No. 1 – 205-1 (62.52m) |
TOP TIMES IN THE MAC: The Zips registered 10 overall top performances in the Mid-American Conference during the indoor campaign.
Indoor
| NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
| Cassidy Allen | Women's Pole Vault | No. 1 – 14-2 (4.32m) |
| Isaac Baltic | Men's Pole Vault | No. 1 – 17-4.50 (5.30m) |
| Brook Boes | Women's Shot Put | No. 1 – 52-2.75 (15.92m) |
| Brook Boes | Women's Weight Throw | No. 1 –67-4.25 (20.53m) |
| Lane Graham | Men's Weight Throw | No. 1 – 67-4 (20.52m) |
| Megan Hipple | Women's 5,000 Meters | No. 1 – 15:53.23 |
| AJ Jordan | Men's 200 Meters | No. 1 – 21.12 |
| Jackline Nanjala | Women's 400 Meters | No. 1 – 53.92 |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put | No. 1 – 60-8 (18.49m) |
| 4x400 Relay (W) | Women's 4x400 Relay | No. 1 – 3:41.04 |
SENIOR DAY: Akron honored 11 as part of Senior Day on May 7. Among those honored were Cassidy Allen, Brook Boes, Tai'Yanna Cage (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Lane Graham, Gabrielle Griffiths, Benjamin Hudak (Tallmadge, Ohio), Emily Razo (Salem, Ohio), Sophia Spencer (Medina, Ohio), Rashaun Stewart (West Moreland, Jamaica), Ruth Webb (Akron, Ohio) and Owen Wendl.
LAST TIME OUT:
For fifth time in program history, and first since 2019, Akron captured the men's and women's outdoor Mid-American Conference Championships outdistancing the field on May 16.
The Akron men's squad won the men's title with 212 points, which was 63.50 points ahead of second place Eastern Michigan.
The Zips claimed the women's crown with 135.50 points, 22 points in front of rival Kent State.
Akron head coach Kendra Reimer-Gonzales was tabbed as the MAC Men's and Women's Coach of the Year.
Individually, Brook Boes was named the MAC Women's Track and Field Most Valuable Performer, while Mercy Jebitok was honored as the league's Freshman Track Performer of the Year.
On the men's side, Andrew Styles was selected as the MAC Men's Track and Field Most Valuable Performer, while freshman Noah Nyageo (Kitale, Kenya) pulled in MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year accolades.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Styles captured a pair of individual titles winning the men's 400 meters in a career-best time of 46.22 before triumphing in the men's 200 meters in career-best effort of 20.70. His effort in the 400 meters is the No. 2 time in outdoor program history.
• Jackline Nanjala won her third MAC championship crossing the line first in a career-best time of 52.86, the No. 2 performance in outdoor program history.
• Jebitok captured her second league crown finishing first in the women's 5,000 meters in 16:12.93.
• Nyageo bested the field in the men's 5,000 meters for his second career league title in a time of 14:30.61.
• Junior AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) earned Second Team All-MAC honors with a runner-up performance in the men's 200 meters in 20.83.
• Junior Jordan Thompson-Seay (Bratenahl, Ohio) garnered Second Team All-MAC accolades placing second in the men's high jump with a career-best mark of 6-6.75 (2.00m).
• The men's 4x400 relay squad of junior Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), Jordan, freshman Tayven Crump (Vandalia, Ohio) and Styles won the race in 3:09.47.
• The men's 4x100 relay team of junior Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.), Jordan, sophomore Garrett Tiller (Streetsboro, Ohio) and Styles crossed the line second in 40.09.
• The women's 4x400 relay team of seniors Vanessa Horn (Ludwigsfelde, Germany) and McKenzie McNitt (Cleveland, Ohio), sophomore Mariyah Moore (Cleveland, Ohio) and Nanjala earned a runner-up finish in a time of 3:39.61.
• Brook Boes won her third league title triumphing in the women's shot put with a mark of 49-9.75 (15.18m).
• Owen Wendl garnered his seventh career league title besting the field in the men's shot put with a mark of 59-9.25 (18.22m), while fellow Lane Graham collected second team All-MAC honors finishing second with a career-best throw of 57-7.75 (17.57m).
• Graham captured his second league title besting the field in the men's hammer with a career-best mark of 220-3 (67.12m), while Christopher Vance placed third with a mark of 200-3 (61.03m). Graham's throw is the second-best mark in outdoor program history.
• Jeffrey Usman earned second team All-MAC honors with a runner-up finish in the men's long jump with a leap of 24-9.25 (7.55m).
• Senior Taye Gonzalez (Lewis Center, Ohio) added team points in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase with a career-best time of 9:00.20, the fourth-fastest effort in outdoor program history.
• Wendl captured his sixth career league title winning his third straight outdoor discus crown with a throw of 188-1 (57.33m).
• Gabrielle Griffiths and Boes along with junior Victoria Kuol (Centerville, Ohio) swept the top three places in the women's hammer. Griffiths captured her first career league title with a throw of 195-6 (59.58m), while adding marks of 191-7 (58.40m) and 178-3 (54.34m), respectively, was Boes and Kuol.
• Jebitok won her initial league championship crossing the line in a school-record time of 33:11.90 in the women's 10,000 meters. Hipple placed third in a time of 33:40.61.
• Sophomores Garett Boe (Chesapeake, Va.), Isaac Baltic (Medina, Ohio) and Kaden Rambatt (Sharon, Wis.) shared the men's pole vault title eclipsing 15-11.75 (4.87m). It marked the second career crown for Baltic and the first championship for Boe and Rambatt.
• Griffiths also added a third-place finish in the women's javelin with a mark of 145-9 (44.42m).
• Cassidy Allen placed second in the women's pole vault with a mark of 13-8 (4.17m), while freshman Amanda Rauch (Marietta, Ohio) finished third with a career-best clearance of 13-0 (3.97m).
• Junior Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) garnered second team All-MAC honors finishing second in the men's 10,000 meters in a career-best time of 29:38.19.
• Amari Noble placed second in the men's hammer with a mark of 183-2 (55.83m).
AKRON GARNERS MAC OUTDOOR POSTSEASON HONORS: Brook Boes, Owen Wendl and Andrew Styles were honored by the Mid-American Conference when the league unveiled its 2026 specialty awards on Thursday (May 21).
Wendl and Boes were tabbed as the league's Outdoor Track and Field Men's and Women's Most Outstanding Field Performers of the Year, while Styles garnered the Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Year.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was selected by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Styles successfully defended his conference title in the 400 meters (46.20), while adding crowns in the 200 meters (20.70) and 4x400 relay en route to securing 22.5 points for the Zips to be named the meet's Most Valuable Performer for the second consecutive MAC Championship (Indoor and Outdoor).
Wendl successfully defended his conference titles in both the shot put (59-9.25/18.22m) and discus (188-1/57.33m), while helping lead Akron to its fourth consecutive MAC Outdoor Championship team title.
Boes was named the MAC Women's Field Most Valuable Performer after capturing the MAC championship in the shot put with a throw of 49-9.75 (15.18m) and adding a runner-up finish in the hammer throw (191-7/58.40m) and a fourth-place finish in the discus (156-3/47.62m).
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2026 outdoor season as the Zips are rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for eight events released on May 19, 2026, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is rated 12th nationally in the women's hammer, 14th in the men's hammer and men's shot put, 16th in the women's discus, 17th in the men's discus, 22nd in the men's and women's pole vault and 27th in the women's shot put
ZIPS RANKED AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2026 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have five individual student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2026 outdoor campaign as Owen Wendl is 30th in the men's shot put (62-1/18.92m).
Additionally, Lane Graham is 32nd in the men's hammer (220-2/67.12m), Gabrielle Griffiths is 36th in the women's hammer (205-1/62.52m), Mercy Jebitok is 45th in the women's 10,000 meters (33:11.90) and Amari Noble is 49th in the men's discus (189-11/57.90m).
AKRON GARNERS MAC INDOOR POSTSEASON HONORS: Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was tabbed the Mid-American Conference Men's Assistant Coach of the Year after Akron captured back-to-back indoor team titles and its fourth consecutive overall league crown.
Brook Boes was selected as the MAC Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet, after sweeping the throwing events winning the women's shot put (49-11.25/15.22m) and weight throw (68-4.50/20.84m).
Andrew Styles was honored as the MAC Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet after winning the 200M (21.67) and 400m (47.99) and anchoring the winning 4x400 relay (3:16.25).
Megan Hipple was tabbed the MAC Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet after a pair of All-MAC performances winning the women's 3K (9:18.79) and placing second in the 5K (16.03.86).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have added 31 overall top five performances and eight school-record marks in program history to the record book during the 2026 outdoor campaign.
| NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
| Lane Graham | Men's Hammer – March 20 | No. 4 – 210-0 (64.02m) |
| Jackline Nanjala | Women's 400M – March 21 | No. 2 – 53.34 |
| Brook Boes | Women's Shot Put – March 21 | No. 5 – 50-4.50 (15.35m) |
| Vanessa Horn McKenzie McNitt Mariyah Moore Jackline Nanjala |
Women's 4x400 Relay – March 21 | No. 2 – 3:39.14 |
| Amari Pratt Te'Aira Branham-Patrick Vanessa Horn Mariyah Moore |
Women's 4x100 Relay – March 21 | No. 3 – 44.68 |
| Braylyn Farrington AJ Jordan Jalen McCoy Andrew Styles |
Men's 4x400 Relay – March 21 | No. 3 – 3:08.94 |
| Rennie Gittens, Jr. AJ Jordan Garrett Tiller Andrew Styles |
Men's 4x100 Relay – March 21 | No. 4 – 40.02 |
| Noah Nyageo | Men's 5,000M – March 26 | No. 4 – 14:04.68 |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put – March 28 | No. 1 – 61-9 (18.82m) |
| Lane Graham | Men's Hammer – March 27 | No. 2 – 212-6 (64.76m) |
| Megan Hipple | Women's 5,000M – March 27 | No. 1 – 16:10.45 |
| Gabrielle Griffiths | Women's Hammer – March 27 | No. 5 – 156-4 (47.66m) |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put – April 3 | No. 1 – 62-0.50 (18.91m) |
| Lane Graham | Men's Hammer – April 3 | No. 2 – 219-11 (67.03m) |
| Jackline Nanjala | Women's 400M – April 4 | No. 2 – 52.87 |
| Gabrielle Griffiths | Women's Hammer – April 3 | No. 5 – 194-3 (59.21m) |
| Vanessa Horn McKenzie McNitt Mariyah Moore Jackline Nanjala |
Women's 4x400 Relay – April 4 | No. 1 – 3:37.05 |
| Braylyn Farrington AJ Jordan Jalen McCoy Andrew Styles |
Men's 4x400 Relay – April 4 | No. 3 – 3:08.29 |
| Gabrielle Griffiths | Women's Hammer – April 9 | No. 5 – 194-9 (59.36m) |
| Mercy Jebitok | Women's 1,500M – April 10 | No. 4 – 4:22.33 |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put – April 16 | No. 1 – 62-1 (18.92m) |
| Megan Hipple | Women's 10,000M – April 16 | No. 1 – 33:25.83 |
| Mercy Jebitok | Women's 5,000M – April 23 | No. 2 – 16:11.82 |
| Megan Hipple | Women's 5,000M – May 1 | No. 1 – 16:05.46 |
| Amari Noble | Men's Discus – May 2 | No. 3 – 189-11 (57.90m) |
| Gabrielle Griffiths | Women's Hammer – May 6 | No. 4 – 205-1 (62.52m) |
| Mercy Jebitok | Women's 10,000M – May 14 | No. 1 – 33:11.90 |
| Andrew Styles | Men's 400M – May 16 | No. 2 – 46.22 |
| Lane Graham | Men's Hammer – May 15 | No. 2 – 220-2 (67.12m) |
| Jackline Nanjala | Women's 400M – May 16 | No. 2 – 52.86 |
| Taye Gonzalez | Men's 3,000M Steeplechase – May 15 | No. 4 – 9:00.20 |
| Titus Kirui | Men's 10,000M – May 14 | No. 4 – 29:38.19 |
| Noah Nyageo | Men's 10,000M – May 14 | No. 5 – 30:01.49 |
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added 25 overall top five performances and a trio of school records in program history to the record book during the 2026 indoor campaign.
| NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
| AJ Jordan | Men's 200M – Dec. 12 | No. 4 – 21.12 |
| Vanessa Horn | Women's 400M – Dec. 12 | No. 2 – 54.31 |
| Megan Hipple | Women's 5,000M – Dec. 6 | No. 1 – 16:15.66 |
| Cassidy Allen | Women's Pole Vault – Dec. 12 | No. 4 – 14-1.75 (4.30m) |
| Brook Boes | Women's Shot Put – Dec. 12 | No. 4 – 52-2.75 (15.92m) |
| Brook Boes | Women's Weight Throw – Dec. 12 | No. 5 – 65-0.75 (19.83m) |
| Cassidy Allen | Women's Pole Vault – Jan. 16 | No. 4 – 14-1.75 (4.31m) |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put – Jan. 23 | No. 3 – 59-4.25 (18.09m) |
| Megan Hipple | Women's 5,000M – Jan. 30 | No. 1 – 15:53.23 |
| Noah Nyageo | Men's 5,000M – Jan. 30 | No. 3 – 14:12.62 |
| Vanessa Horn Mariyah Moore McKenzie McNitt Jackline Nanjala |
Women's 4x400 Relay – Jan. 31 | No. 1 – 3:41.04 |
| Megan Hipple | Women's 3,000M – Feb. 7 | No. 1 – 9:17.94 |
| Noah Nyageo | Men's 3,000M – Feb. 7 | No. 5 – 8:07.98 |
| Lane Graham | Men's Weight Throw – Feb. 6 | No. 4 – 66-3.25 (20.20m) |
| Abigael Kiplagat | Women's 5,000M – Feb. 6 | No. 3 – 16:35.76 |
| Cassidy Allen | Women's Pole Vault – Feb. 13 | No. 4 – 14-2 (4.32m) |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put – Feb. 20 | No. 2 – 60-8 (18.49m) |
| Lane Graham | Men's Weight Throw – Feb. 20 | No. 2 – 67-4 (20.52m) |
| Te'Aira Branham-Patrick | Women's 60M – Feb. 20 | No. 2 – 7.48 |
| Jackline Nanjala | Women's 400M – Feb. 20 | No. 2 – 53.92 |
| Brook Boes | Women's Weight Throw – Feb. 20 | No. 5 – 67-4.25 (20.53m) |
| Lane Graham | Men's Weight Throw – Feb. 27 | No. 2 – 68-3.25 (20.81m) |
| Abigael Kiplaget | Women's 5,000M – Feb. 27 | No. 3 – 16:30.74 |
| Brook Boes | Women's Weight Throw – Feb. 27 | No. 4 – 68-4.50 (20.84m) |
| Titus Kirui | Men's 5,000M – Feb. 27 | No. 5 – 14:20.81 |
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